Apparatus for treating gold



(No Model.)

7 Sheets-'Sheet 1.

IParen'red MayI?, 188|.

s. M. LILLIE.

"Ivl,

Apparatus for Treating Gold, Silver and Other Ores.. No. 241,679.

WOZZ 71 emma N. PETERS. Fholo-Lltbogndllr, Willhlngtun. DA C.

7 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

' Patented May 17,188I.

M PETERS. mlimg'nghen wiil'lingion, D. C.

"ma Model.)

S M LILLIE Apparatus for Treating Gold, Silver and Other Ores.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

` s.-M. ILILLIE.' v l Apparatus forTreatin'g Gold,` Silver and Other Ores'. Patented Mayl 17,1881.

(No Model.) Y 7 Sheets-#Sheet 4.

S. M. LILLIE.

Apparatus fr Treating Gold, Silver andOther Dres. No. 241,679. Patented May 17,1881.

WMMM JM' Z (No Model.) 7 sheets-sheen 5.

y S. M. LILLIE. Apparatus for Treating Gold, Silver andther Ores. No. 241,679. Patented May 17,1881.

www.

(No Moda.) 7 sheets-sheer. s. S. M. LILLIIE.

Apparatus for/Treating Gold, Silver-and Other Gres.

No.` 241,679. vv'Patented M'yj', 188|.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(NQ Model.)

, l S. M; LILLIE. I

Apparatus for Treating Gold, Silvar and Other 0116s. No'. 241,679. Patented May 17,188I

UNITED STATES )PATENT l OFFICE.

S. MORRIS LlLLlE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR TR'EATING GOLD, SILVER, AND OTHER CRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part" of'Letters Patent No. 241,679,1dated May 17, 1881.

Application filed February 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, S. MORRIS LILLIE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, in the county of' Philadelphia and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented new anduseful improvements in apparatus for subjecting gold, silver, andmother ores to the chemical and disintegrating, ysep-1 ating, and reducing actions ot hydrocarbon ;gases,of which the following is a specication, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings and letters of reference thereon.

The nature of my saidinvention and improvements consists, iirst, of the hereinafterdescribed appara-tus for subjecting ores to the chemical and comminuting action ot' the gases resulting from thedestructi ve distillation ot' bituminous coal or other carbonaeeous matters, consisting ot' a series ot' approximately-vertical retorts for holdingthe carbonaceous matters from which the gases are to be distilled, and the ores to be subjected to the action ot the saine ranged in the lire-chamber ot' a kiln on each side ot' a central `tire-box', each of `the said retorts projecting through the roof oi' the kiln and passing with a curve through one ot' the side walls of the same, near the bottom ot' the tire-chamber, the upper and lower extremities ot' each retort heilig furnishedwith suitable closing appliances, by which they may be tightly closed, and the upper extremity being provided with a tube, through which theI gases generated in the retort mayhaveexit, and the lower extremity having a suitable tap-hole, through which any reduced andmelted metal may be run from the retort, in the manner substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings, and ashereinafter specified and set forth.

Second, it also consists, in an apparatus or kiln for subjecting ores Vto the chemical and comminuting action of gases resulting from the destructive distillation ot' bituminous coal or other carbonaceous matters, in the combination `of a series of retorts for containing the ore to be treated ranged on either side ot' the central nre-box of the kiln in the lire-chamber of the same, a supplemental retort for holding the carbonaceous matter to be distilled extending through the fire-chamber from one end of the kiln to the other, directly over the tire-box, and conduits connecting the said supplemental retort with each of the ore-retorts ranged ou each side of the lire-box, the supple- Y mental retort serving for the distillation ofthe carbonaceousmatters, and also for the deection otl the heat and ames of the tire against and around theme-retorts, and the conduits serving to convey the generated gases from the supplemental `retort to the ore-retorts, substantially as shown in the accompanying draw- `in gs, and as hereinafter specified and set forth.

Third, it also consists, in a kiln for subjecting ores to the action ot gases resulting from the destructive distillation of bituminous coal or other carbonaceous matters, in the combination, with `the retorts for holding the ore, of conduits tapping each ot' the said retorts at its extremity opposite to that at which the gaseous distillates are introduced into the retort, or`

in which the carbonaceous matters to be distilled are contained, and between which end and the point of juncture of the conduit with the retort, the orento be treated is contained in the retort, the conduit serving to lead the gases from the retorts to the lire-chamber, there to be burned `to assist in heating the retorts, substantially as shownin the accompanying drawings, and as hereinafter specified and set forth.

Fourth, it further consists, in a kiln for subjecting ores to the action of gases resulting from the destructive distillation ot' bituminous coal or other carbonaceous matters, in the conibination, with the retorts for holding the ores to be subjected to the action of gases, and arranged so that they may be tightly closed` at their' lower and upper extremities, ot' conduits provided with the weighted valves leading bonaceous substance a quantity of the ore to be treated, so as to disintegrate, separate, or`

resolve the same into small or minuteparts, or such ore and carbonaceous matter may be charged into the retort mingled together. The charging, as aforesaid, having been completed, the mouth or upper extremity of the retort is iirmly closed, and the fire in the fire-box of the said furnace orkiln is started in theusual manner of commencing fires in furnaces. As soon as the contents of the retorts become sufiiciently heated the hydrocarbons are distilled from the coal or carbonaceous matter aforesaid, which, in their heated condition, and more or less under pressure, may be regulated, as hereinafter described, exerts a chemical, reducing, and disintegratin g, and rsolvin g and separating action upon the heated ore with which it is in contact in the retort. The gaseous hyd rocarbons after having acted on the ores iiow through the conducting-pipe to the fire-chamber and are hurried in the same to assist in heating the said retorts. The ore having been long enough subjected to the action ot' the heated gases and pressure thereof, the lower ends of t-he retorts are opened and the charges in the same are removed therefrom. The coke resulting from the distillation of the coal or carbonaceous matters may be used as fuel in the fire-chamber of the furnace or kiln aforesaid.

In the drawings, in the figures of which similar parts are indicated by thesame letters, are shown several arrangements substantially embodying my invention.

` In Figure lis shown a vertica-l'transverse section of a furnace or kiln and retorts having an oblong, rectangular, horizontal cross-section, substantially as shown in Fig. 2, which is a horizontal section of Fig. 1 above the supplemental retort. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a furnace or kiln having the same general construction as that of which Figs. 1 and 2 are Src., on each side of the central elongated firechamber, the upper extremities of which extend through and project above the top of the said furnace or kiln, and are furnished with means for closing the same'tightly, consist-ing of the caps c, plates p, and clamps Z, such as are ordinarily used for the purpose, in connection with gas-retorts, man-holes, and similar structures, and the lower extremities of which pass with a curve through the side walls of the furnace or kiln and are closed bythe plates and bolts p. A supplementalretort, It ,is supported horizontally directly above the fire-chamber or fire-boxF by the fire-brick archesB B and the end walls of the said furnace or kiln, through which it projects. The extremities of the supplemental retort R, projecting through the walls of thefurnace or kiln, are each furnished with a cap and clamp for tightly closing them upon the said outer ends of the retorts, as shown in Fig. 2. The supplemental retort communicates with the lower ends of the ore-retorts, on each side of the same, through the mains M and the branching conduits, tubes, or pipes af Leading from the upper extremities of the ore-retorts to'gas holders or chambers H, located adjacent to the iirc-box F and ash-pit P,

and partially beneath the tire-chamber of the said furnace or kiln, are the gas-conducting tubes or pipes d, containing each a cock, c, for conducting the hydrocarbon gases from the retorts to the gas-holders H, whence they are led by suitable conduits or tubes f, shown in Fig.

so that the gases may receive additional heat 9 from or be kept hot by the same. The space i might be filled with any non-conducting substance, and theconducting pipes or tubes d y ought to be covered with a non-conducting substance, so as to retain the heat therein.

The fire-box or fire-chamber F and the ashpit P are respectively furnished at each end of Y the furnace or kiln with doors D and E, as

shown in Fig. 3, which may be regarded as an elevation of either end of said furnace or kiln,

instead of through the tops of the portions of 1 the said retorts protruding through the walls of the said furnaces or kilns.

In Fig. 3 the plates p are divided into halves horizontally, the upper halves of which are bolted to the mouths or openings of the said retorts, and through them the branching conduits,.tubes, or pipes t pass; but the lower halves are held in place by clamps, and may be easily removed. Each of the caps p closing the lower ends of the said ore-retorts, has a small tap-hole, n, Fig.1, through which may be drawn any reduced and melted metal or other matter, should there be any such, resulting from the action of the gases and the heat on the ore in the said retorts It.

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of a kiln substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs.

4l, 2, and 3, with the exception that the tubes ygas pipes vor tubes d in Fig. 4 are each prof vided with a weighted valve, c, by which the` pressure of the gases in the said ore-retorts maybe varied as desired by moving the weight on the lever nearer to or farther from the ful;

crum. A section of the tubes or conduits d of; Fig. 4, including the tuyeres t and valve r, is; shown in Fi0..5. 'i Fig. 5 is avertical cross-section ot'a furnace `or kiln and retorts in which the supplemental and horizontal retort R', being elliptical in cross-section, is placedwith the major axis of its cross-section vertical instead of horizontah as in Figs. l to 3,inclusive, `which permits thev same width of furnace or kiln, or, rather, of; space, between the two opposite lines or rows of said ore-retorts-a supplemental retort of a greater cubical capacity. In this arrangement,i also, the supplemental retort R' communicates with the ore-retorts Rby tubes or conduits con-1 tained entirely in the tire-chamber of thefur-z nace or kiln. The gasfconducting tubes d, for conveying the gases from the retorts It tothe i fire-chamber, communicate with thc chamber through tuyeres t, piercingthe side walls of the chamber, each ot' which has an air-tube, o, eX- tending` into it from the atmosphere and serv-I ing toadmit air into the chamber, whichis mingled with the gases owing through the tube d, for the combustion of the same. The airtubes o of the tuyeres may be provided each with a valve, slide, or other means by which the amount of air admitted through it maybe proportioned to the quantity of gas passing through the tuyeres.

In. FiO. 6 is shown a horizontal cross-section of a modification of myiinvention, in which there is no supplemental ore-retort, and in y which the gases for the treatment of the ores are generated in the ore-retorts themselves. rlhe absence of thesupplemental retort allows ofthe lesscning ofthe width of the lire-chamber or `fire-box, the bringing of the opposite ,rows of retorts nearer together and more directly over thefire-box or fire-chamber, and thus ofeffecting agreater concentration ofheat around the same.

A series of furnaces or kilns ot' thedescription shown in cross-section in Fie. 6 may be used in combination with one or a series of furnaces or kilns for the destructive distillation of the carbonaceous matters connected wit-h the retorts of each ofthe series of ore-furnaces or kilns, and of sufficient capacity to` furnish sufficient gas for all of the furnaces or kilns, the retorts of which would be exclusively filled with the kind of ore to be treated, as aforesaid.

In Figs. 7 and 8 is shown another modification of. my invention, in which the furnace or kiln is circular in form, Fig. 7 being a vertical and` axial section, and Fig. 8 a partial crosssection of the furnace or kiln along the broken line a: x, Fig. 7. In thismodification the case S of the said kiln is circular, the freboXis circular, and the several orc-retorts R, which are straight, are arranged ina circle in the tirechamber around the fire-box. The upper cX- tremitiesot' the retorts project through the top of the tire-chamber for charging purposes, and for discharging purposesthrough they annular bottom of the same contained between the circular fire-box Fand the case S of the fire-chamber. The upper and lower extremities ot' the retorts are closed by plates and clamps, as hereinbefore described.

Projecting from the top of theV furnace or kiln proper is the circular dome S', contained within the circle of the ore-retorts R, and the interior ot' which forms a coutinuation'upward of the fire-chamber proper. Within the dome S' is contained the cylinder or retort R"",whose upper head or end plate is also that of the dome, and between which `and the shell ofthe dome is an annular space, Z, throughwhich and around the cylinder R' thefheated gases 4from the tirecham ber below flow tothe tlue N.

In the top of the retort R'" is a door, L, for charging the same, and at the side, near the bottom, the passage extending to the exterior of the dome S', and furnished `with -the door Q, furnish means for withdrawing the contents of the ore-retort. The upper extremity of each of the lower retorts, R, communicates withthe upper retort, R', near the bottom of the saine, by a short tube, a', through which the gases fow from the former 'to the latter. These gases having passed up through the retiortR"l and acted upon the ore in the same, are led by gas-conducting pipes l and tuyercs t into-the annular space between the retort R'" and the shell of the dome S', and then burned toaid in heating the said retort. The lower retorts, lt, are for holding the carbonaceous matters from which the gases are to be distilled, and also some of the ore to be treated, and the upper retort, R'", is designed to hohl ore alone, for the purposes of disintegration, separation, or reduction of the same. The treatmentvof the ore in the upper retort may be final or it may be onljy7 preparatory to a `further treatment in the retorts below, according to the character or kind of ore treated or the results desired to be obtained.

' In the ease of the furnaces o1l kilns shown `in Figs. l to 6, inclusive, the walls consist of 'an iron casing and of a tire-brick lining with an air-space between the two, and this might also be the construction ofthe walls` of the furnace or kiln `shown in Figs. 7 and S, which, as shown, however, consist only of a thin shell. All of the said furnaces or kilns arceach provided with suitable flue-openings, N, into the fire-chamber at or near the top thereof, for c arrying off the products of combustion.

The method of using the above apparatus is substantially and brietiy as follows-that is to say: The retorts It aforesaid beingempty and closed at. their lower extremities by means of suitable doors or coverings, are charged or in part filled or supplied through and by their upper extremities or ends,tirst, with a proportion ofthe coal or carbonaceous matters from which the gases are to be distilled; and, second and thereafter, with the kind of ore to be treated,

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tion of the charging aforesaid the tops of the retorts are tightly closed' by the plates p, held by the bails or the clamps Z. The supplemental retort R is charged with the coalor carbonaceous matter and then its ends tightly closed by their plates and clamps. Then, it' notfalready done, the fire is started in the tire-box or fire-chamber ofthe said furnace or kiln and urged so as to heat and keep at a very high temperature the said several retorts and their contents, the fuel used being', in part at least, coke, resulting from previous workings ofthe furnace or kiln. Under the inl'luence ot' the heat hydrocarbon andother gases are distilled from the carbonaceous matters in the several retorts It, and also in the supplemental retort R', which, iiowing in a very highly-heated condition among, into, and through the heated ore in the said retorts It, exercise chemical, disintegrating, and comminuting actions upon the same. rlhe gases, after having passed thro,ugh the ore, then being treated as aforetion.

said are led by the gas-conducting tubes d back into theire-chamber, and are there burned 'to-assist in heating the several retorts. Any metal that may be reduced and melted in any of the retorts will iiow to the bottom ot' the same and may be drawn olf through the lampholes a. The ore having been subjected to the action of the highly-heated gases sufficiently long, the plates p are removed from thelower ends of the retorts and their contents or charges withdrawn in a completed condi-l rlhe retort R is also relieved and emptied, unlessitcontains sufficient undecomposed or but partially-decomposed coal for another charge of ore to be treated as aforesaid. The severalretorts may now be recharged, substantially as above described, and the operation repeated with a second batch of the kind of ore to be treated, and thus the operation is continued from time to time indefinitely.

The labove is, ot' course, descriptive ot' the method or operation of said furnace or kiln as carried on when the supplemental retort It is used, substantially as shown in Figs. to 5 of the said drawings, inclusive.

In the case of the furnace or kiln shown in cross-section in Fig. 6, and which contains no supplemental retort lt, the several retorts R are charged or supplied with coal and ore substantially as above described, but with a greater proportion of coal, owin g to the absence of the supplemental retort and the gases that would be furnished thereby, and the operation and manipulation for disintegrating, separating, and reducing ores is substantially the same as above described, excepting as modified by the absence ofthe supplemental retort.

In the apparatus shown in Figs. 7 and S the lower retorts, R,are charged or supplied with coal or other carbonaceous matter for the distillation of gases and treating of ore, as aforesaid, and the u pper retort or cylinder, It, with ore alone. The gases generated in the said several retorts It, having acted on the said ore in 1 the same, tlow into the retort R, and there actl upon thesore in it, and lthence How back into the dome S through the tubes or conduits d, and are there burned, to aid combustion and to assist in heating the retort R". There may be as many charges worked in the-upper retort j as in the lower ones, R, or two or more charges may be treated in the lower retorts to one in l the upper one, R, in which the latter would be subjected to the action of the gases generated in the lower retorts, It, from the two or more charges worked therein. Again, thetreatment of theore in the upper retort may be preparatory to a second treatment of the same in the lower retorts, and so on.

' It is to be observed thatin my apparatus the distillation of the carbon aceous matters for the production of the gases and the heating of the ore subjected to the action thereof are effected by the same tire, there being but one lire-box or chamber ot' combustion and but one lire in the furnace or kiln to accomplish the two re sults.

I would further point out that by the use of a number or series of retorts of comparatively small cross-section, I obtain a greater'heatin gsurface and a higher and more uniform temperature through the mass of the ore than would be the case were the same amount of ore` contained in one large retort or furnace and subjected to the heat of the same tire.

' Having described my invention, [claim and wish to secure by Letters P atentl. The within-described apparatus for subjecting ores to the chemical `and comminuting action of the gases resulting' from the destructive distillation otbituminous coal or other carbonaceons matters, consisting of a series of approximately-vertical retorts for holding thev carbonaceous matters from which the gases are to be distilled, and the ores to be subjected to the action ot' the same ranged in the tirechamber ot' a kiln on each side of a central fireboX, each ofthe said retorts projecting through the root' the kiln and passing with a curve through one of the side walls of the same, near the bottom of the fire-chamber, the upper and -lower extremities of each re tort being furnished lation ot' bituminous coalor other carbonaceous matters, the combination of a series of retorts for containing the ore to be treated, ranged on either side of the central lire-box of the kiln in the tire-chamber ofthe same, a supplemental retort for holding the carbonaceous matter t( be distilled extending through the fire-cham ber from one end of the kiln to the other, di rectly over the tire-box, and conduits connect ing the said supplemental retort with each of the ore-retorts ranged on each side of the lireboX, the supplemental retort serving for the distillation of the carbonaceous matters, and 5 also for the deflection of the heat and flames of the fire against and around the ore-retorts, and the conduits serving to convey the generated gases from the supplemental retort to the oreretorts, substantially as specified.

3. In a kiln forsubjecting ores to the action of gases resulting from the destructive distillation of bituminous coal or other carbonaceu ous matters, the combination, with the retorts for holding the ore, of conduits tapping each of the said retorts at its extremity opposite to that at which the gaseous distillates are introduced into the retort, or in which the. carbonaceous matters to be distilled are contained, and between which end and the point of j uncture of the conduit with the retort the ore to be treated is contained in the retort, the conduits serving to lead the gases from the retorts to the hre-chamber, there to be burned to assist in heating the retorts, substantially as specified.

4. In a kiln for subjecting ores to the action of gases resulting from the destructive distillation of bituminous coal or other .carbonaceous matters, the combination, with the retorts for holding the ores to be subjected to the action of the gases and arranged so that they may be tightly closed at their lower and upper extremities, ot' conduits d, provided with the weighted valves c, leading from the upper eX- tremities of the retorts downward on the outside of the kiln to `and terminating in the tuyeres t, leading into the fire-chamber, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof` I have, on this 14th day of February, A. D. 1881, hereunto set my 4o hand. y

S. MORRIS LlLLIE.

In "presence ot'- JAMEs L. A NDEM, B. F. STEIGER. 

